Antigua Holidays

With its rolling hills, pretty coves and stunning views, Antigua is a picture-perfect island with a wonderfully laid-back vibe. Luxurious resorts are sprinkled along the coast, each one claiming its own pocket of paradise.

Antigua has 365 beaches – a different one for every day of the year – so you’re guaranteed to find a perfect stretch of sand, whether you’re looking for calm waters for swimming, fun watersports, lively beach bars or secluded coves that can only be reached by boat. Dickenson Bay lies in the northwest and its soft powdery sands and calm waters are ideal for families with young children. Tuck into tasty coconut shrimp at Valley Church Beach on the west coast and sink your toes into this stretch of glistening white sand dotted with pretty seashells.

Cruise line passengers always make a beeline for the Heritage Quay Complex in St John's. This is a shopaholic's paradise with plenty of duty-free bargains to be found, from electronics and jewellery to designer clothes and bags. Head to the Vendors' mall to pick up some local art and crafts at bargain prices. In St John's you'll also find the historic Redcliff Quay which is home to small boutiques, jewellery stores and local artwork.

Antiguan restaurants offer a mixture of spicy Creole dishes and international cuisine with influences from Europe. Signature Antiguan dishes include ‘goat water’, a deliciously spicy stew; ‘duccana’, a side dish with sweet potato, pumpkin, coconut, cornmeal, sugar and spices steamed in banana leaves; and ‘fungi and pepperpot’, a thick vegetable stew. Taste the island’s sweet black pineapple and visit one of the raw bars along the coast for freshly-caught seafood such as spiny lobster, conch, oysters and red snapper.